Updated Aug. 25: If you’ve been laptop shopping lately, you’ve obviously noticed that RAM and storage prices are driving some serious sticker shock. There’s an antidote, though, but it requires you to think outside the box a little bit: consider a Chromebook. Google’s ChromeOS operating system powers these laptops, and it’s designed to get peak performance out of underpowered hardware. It doesn’t skimp on features, either, with plenty of AI tools and great security. These PCs get comparable performance to Windows machines that sell for way more.
No other organization tests laptops with the mindset that we do in the PC Labs, and we’ve reviewed and benchmarked a ton of ChromeOS devices. They are power-efficient for long battery life and swift charging, hardened against malware and viruses, tuned for cloud applications, and receive frequent free system updates. Here are eight of the best Chromebook deals from all the top retailers.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Deal
For a Chromebook that’ll go toe-to-toe with Windows laptops significantly more expensive, our top pick is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. We gave this one an Editors’ Choice award in our review, with PCMag expert Brian Westover proclaiming that it was “a redefinition of what a Chromebook even is, as it injects AI capabilities into several of the most popular productivity tools, with many AI features conducted on-device.” Google’s Gemini AI is all over this machine, with text suggestions, image generation, and more here for you to play with. Physically, the 714 is a delight, with a colorful WUXGA screen, flattering QHD webcam, comfortable keyboard and good port selection. $200 off is a sizable discount.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Deal
Lenovo reliably makes solid portable PCs, and that extends to its Chromebook offerings as well. Students or professionals looking for a lightweight and capable laptop will do just fine with the Chromebook Plus 2-in-1, which boasts a solid component loadout, sturdy build quality, and nice-feeling keyboard. We have a review of a similar but less powerful model, the Chromebook Flex 5i, where we were impressed by its capable performance. This unit has a 14-inch OLED display (surprising for a laptop in this price range), up to 17 hours of battery life on a single charge, and a dedicated Quick Insert key to tap into Google’s Gemini AI features for text generation, editing, translation and more.
HP Chromebook 14 Deal
On the other side of the Chromebook spectrum, we find mega-affordable models like HP’s 14-inch unit. Coming in at just a little bit above $200, this budget laptop is perfect for students and casual users, with a good-sized HD display and decent components. It’s exceptionally lightweight, and while the design isn’t anything to brag about, it feels sturdy in the hands. Connectivity is solid, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 coupled with one USB-C and two USB-A ports. Battery life is as epic as you’d think, and HP’s Fast Charger gets you from zero to 50% in just 45 minutes. While it isn’t a speed demon, this is a totally reliable daily driver that’ll get it done for less.
Asus Vibe CX34 Gaming Chromebook Deal
A Chromebook for gaming? It’s more likely than you think. While the Asus Vibe CX34 isn’t tricked out with the latest Nvidia GPUs, it’s designed for entertainment in a different way: by linking up with cloud-based gaming services that outsource the processing to remote servers. While we don’t have a full review of this unit, we did preview it at CES and were dazzled by the budget portable’s best-in-class connectivity and flexible 2-in-1 design, along with the 16:10 touchscreen with a 144Hz refresh rate. A 39% price cut makes it even cooler.
Acer Chromebook 315 Deal
For a budget option, we’ve got a few choices depending on your brand loyalty. The Acer Chromebook 315 is a solid option at retail, but for $77 off it’s a big bargain, with a decent silicon loadout and good port selection. In our review, we noted that it was more than good enough for everyday tasks, although it didn’t blow us away with battery life. The full-sized keyboard has a dedicated number pad, which isn’t common, and we were impressed by the smooth, responsive OceanGlass touchpad. This bundle comes with a carrying case as well, which is a nice perk.
Asus Chromebook Flip CX1 Deal
Internal storage is consistently one of the biggest pain points for Chromebook users. They just don’t come with big drives, because so much Chrome OS work is done in the cloud through Google Apps and other browser-based software. That’s why this offer from Best Buy is so smart: it’s a bundle of a very nice Asus convertible with 128GB of eMMC storage inside the casing and a free 128GB SD card added to it. Doubling the space you have for files is a big deal, and when you compare this unit to our best Chromebooks for 2026, it stacks up very nicely, with a responsive FHD touchscreen, smooth hinge, support for up to two external monitors, and a spill-resistant keyboard. Best Buy has a 38% discount.
Recommended by Our Editors
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Deal
Another budget-minded Chromebook at a tasty price drop, the IdeaPad Slim 3i is lightweight and features epic battery life, clocking in at over 15 hours. The ARM-based processor works well with Chrome OS, and although the component loadout is pretty skimpy, for an ultra-budget laptop, it’s more than capable of getting the job done. Lenovo also always overdelivers when it comes to build quality, and the all-plastic case feels sturdy and durable. See how it compares on our list of the best Chromebooks we’ve reviewed.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Deal
Let’s close out with a nice deal on a potent Chromebook at a discount that drops it into the budget bracket. In our review of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, we gave it an Editors’ Choice award, noting that it led the pack in performance across numerous tests thanks to a very capable Intel processor coupled with a generous 8GB loadout of RAM. This model has a better processor than the one we tested, so we’d expect it to perform even better. The MIL-SPEC-certified design and antimicrobial coating make it a great choice for travel, and good port selection and connectivity are also present. Getting a $160 price drop chops it down to a nice bracket.
If you ever wondered how we test laptops, wonder no more! We wrote a deep dive into our extensive process.
More Chromebook Deals To Explore
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Why Are Google Chromebooks So Cheap?
If you’re a little suspicious, thanks to the low prices on most Chromebooks, you might be wondering why they are so affordable. We go deep into the differences in our “Laptop Vs. Chromebook” feature, but in short, Chromebooks run the much more limited Google ChromeOS, which prioritizes the Chrome web browser, Google Drive cloud storage, and extensions from the Chrome Web Store and Google Play Store. They’re significantly less flexible and customizable than your basic Windows laptop.
How Much Should I Pay for a Chromebook?
With low pricing still one of the most popular reasons to pick up a Chromebook, you should be able to get a capable model for $350 at the absolute maximum. The more advanced Chromebook Plus models can go up to four figures, but for most users, those aren’t necessary, and you’d be better suited with a traditional Windows laptop. You can get a reliable HP, Acer, or Lenovo Chromebook for $250-to-$300.
What Is the Cheapest But Best Chromebook?
Chromebooks, in general, come in lower on the price scale than Windows or Mac laptops, but the trade-off is that they’re often lower-powered in terms of processor speed, memory, and internal storage. Buying a decent one is all about finding the best value for money. In our roundup of the best Chromebooks, we recommend the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 for budget shoppers for its lengthy battery life, decent touch screen, AI enhancements, and a broad array of ports for the price.
What to Look for in a Chromebook Deal?
Our Chromebook buying guide has some key metrics to consider when buying one of these inexpensive laptops. Chromebooks typically have less hardware variability than Windows laptops, but we recommend an Intel Core processor and 8GB of memory for today’s web apps and decent multitasking. If you need more punch, look for an Intel Core Ultra chip. ChromeOS is optimized for touch-screen use, so it’s worth getting a model that supports that.
Best Chromebook Deals Under $300?
$300 is the sweet spot for Chromebook pricing, and in our rundown of the best budget laptops, we spotlight the impressive Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9. This detachable touch-screen model is pixel-dense and high in build quality for $329.99. It’s tough to find a 2-in-1 Chromebook for much cheaper than this, and this price is likely to come down during sales events.
What Are the Biggest Chromebook Discounts This Year, and How Much Can I Save?
The aforementioned Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best deals in Chromebooks this year, even at its list price, but we haven’t seen that many extreme price cuts on Chromebooks so far in 2025.
Are Chromebooks Cheaper During Amazon Prime Day or Cyber Monday?
Of course! Expect to see Chromebooks dip below these list prices during those shopping holidays, getting back to the sub-$300 prices we’ve been used to. However, be sure to focus on specs and stats when buying your next Chromebook to get the features and capabilities you want.
Are Chromebooks Discounted During Back-to-School Sales?
Yes! Back-to-school sales generally begin as the school year ends in June in the US and kick into high gear through July. They start to simmer down in August and fall off by the end of September. Throughout that time, retailers carry Chromebook discounts across subcategories.
Which Retailers Have the Biggest Chromebook Discounts?
Generally speaking, Amazon carries the largest and most frequent discounts on Chromebooks, with Walmart following closely behind or in lockstep. Best Buy and other electronics retailers also have deals on Chromebooks.
About Our Experts
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.
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